Arrangement for bagging articles

ABSTRACT

Arrangement for bagging articles comprises frame with conveyor on frame for propelling articles along longitudinal path of travel. Supply of flexible bags is adjacent longitudinal path of article travel, and each bag of supply has closed and open ends with portion adjacent open end thereof secured to bag retainer on frame. Bags are singly inflated open into article-receiving position in longitudinal path of article travel so that closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of opened end thereof. Conveyor propels each article into inflated opened bag so that momentum of propelled article tears associated bag away from bag retainer which enables next bag of supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for next article on conveyor.

0 United States Patent 13579351 [72] lnventor Louie R. Lowery 3,492,780 2/1970 Bastasch 53/189X Cedar Knools, NJ. 3,490,195 1/1970 Abramson..... 53/385X [21] App]. No. 833,410 3,508,379 4/1970 Noyes et a1. 53/385X [22] Filed June 16, 1969 Prima E T S M G h ry xammer ravis c e ee {45] paula'med May 2511971 Attorney-Connolly and Hutz [73] Assignee Keyes Fibre Company Waterville, Maine [54] ARRANGEMENT FOR BAGGING ARTICLES ABSTRA CT: Arrangement for bagging articles comprises 11 Claims, snrawing Figs. frame w th conveyor on frame for propelling art clesalong longitudinal path of travel. Supply of flexible bags 18 ad acent [52] 1.5. CI 53/55, longitudinal path of article travel and each bag of Supply has 53/189 53/385 closed and open ends with portion adjacent open end thereof [5 1] Int. Secured to g retainer on frame. g are inflated p 1365b 43/36 into article-receiving position in longitudinal path of article [50] Fleld of Search 53/55, 189, travel so that Closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of 18138125? opened end thereof. Conveyor propels each article into inflated opened bag so that momentum of propelled article tears [56] References cued associated bag away from bag retainer which enables next bag UMTED STATES PATENTS of supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for next 3,106,051 10/1963 Schild 53/259 article on conveyor.

7! a W 72 95 I 54 14 e 46 2 16 if, 1 2"" J as 42 44 Q4; 66 4Q J w 50 5O PATENTED MAY25 I97! SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENIEB HAY 25 ran SHEET 3 BF 4 ARRANGEWNT FOR lBAGGING ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article-packaging machine, and more particularly to an arrangement for surrounding articles with flexible wrapping material in bag form.

Prior to the present invention, numerous machines have been proposed for providing articles, such as filled containers, with overwraps of flexible material. In many instances, the flexible material is in bag form, and the bags are stored and manipulated to receive the articles, such as in the manner described in Rudennan US. Pat. No. 2,770,084, dated Nov. 13, 1956. Fully automatic machines involve machine movements more complex than those associated with the Ruderman device. Moreover, when the articles to be packaged are containers filled with fragile items, such as eggs, for example, automatic machinery must be designed not only to operate at economic production rates but also to operate without damaging the fragile contents of the containers.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article-bagging arrangement that functions in a highly satisfactory and beneficial manner to surround articles with overwraps of flexible material in bag form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an arrangement is provided for bagging articles comprising a frame with a conveyor connected thereto for propelling articles along a 1ongitudinal path of travel. A supply of flexible bags is adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, and each bag has closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer on the frame. A bag-inflating mechanism is provided for singly inflating the bags open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of the opened end thereof. The conveyor propels each article into an inflated opened bag so that the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag container which then enables the next bag of the supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor.

The bag-inflating mechanism for singly inflating the flexible bags open may include an air chute having an exit end adjacent the open end of each bag to be inflated. A baffle at the exit end of the chute divides the airflow into a first stream that initially urges the bag open and a second stream that maintains the bag in its opened article-receiving position until it is torn from the bag retainer by the momentum of the article propelled into it. The supply of flexible bags may comprise a vertical stack of bags with the uppermost bag of the stack inflated.

An upper rotating belt directly above the conveyor engages top portions of the articles on the conveyor to force the articles against the conveyor and thereby prevent slippage between the bottom portions of the articles and the conveyor.

Structure may also be provided for singly releasing articles onto the conveyor. Such structure can comprises a pair of pivoted escapement arms and an operator that opens and closes the arms.

A pair of pivoted guiding arms is immediately adjacent the upstream side of the bag supply, and an operator connected to the arms moves them into and out of the longitudinal path of article travel. The arms guide each article into an inflated bag when they are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel. Also, downstream tip portions on the arms enter each inflated bag when the arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel to assist in holding the bag open.

A sensing device is associated with the bag supply to detect when a bag is inflated open into its article-receiving position. Another sensing device may be associated with the escapement arms to detect the presence of an article immediately adjacent the upstream side of those arms. Circuitry interconnecting the sensing devices with the operators for the escapement and guiding arms energizes the operators to pivot the escapement arms and the guiding arms out of the longitudinal path of article travel when an article is immediately adjacent the upstream side of the escapement arms and a bag is inflated open. Still another sensing device prevents the escapement and guiding arms from opening until afier each bagged article is torn away from the bag retainer. A sensing device associated with the guiding arms maintains the operators for the escapement and guiding arms energized at least until after the propelled article has passed the guiding arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those mentioned above will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevationalview of an arrangement for bagging articles according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of g the downstream end of the bagging arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 with selected portions thereof broken away to show detail;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the downstream end of the bagging arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating another sequence in the operation of the bagging arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring in more particularity to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an arrangement 10 for bagging articles 12, such as 2X6 egg filled cartons, for example. A main conveyor 14 is connected to engage the bottom walls of the articles 12 for propelling them along a predetermined longitudinal path of article travel. The conveyor 14 includes a conveyor belt 16 trained about an idler pulley 18 and a driven pulley 20. At the entrance end of the conveyor an escapement mechanism or gate 22 is connected to singly release the articles 12 onto the conveyor 14. By opening and closing the escapement mechanism 22 the articles 12 are single released onto the belt 16, as described below.

The escapement mechanism comprises a pair of spaced escapement arms 24 pivotally mounted at their midportions 26 for movement into and out of the longitudinal path of article travel. Each arm 24 includes a forward stopblock 28 adapted to prevent the articles from moving along the conveyor belt 16 when the escapement mechanism 22 is in the blocking or closed position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The escapement arms 24 also include rear stopblocks 30 positioned to prevent the articles directly behind the article in the escapement from travelling along the conveyor when the escapement is opened away from the longitudinal path of article travel.

Movement of the escapement mechanism 22 is controlled by a solenoid operator 32 connected to the midportions 26 of the arms 24 by a pivotally mounted yoke 34. The yoke is adapted to move longitudinally in the direction of article travel when the solenoid is energized which in turn causes the forward stopblocks 28 to move away from the conveyor belt 16 out of the path of article travel. The article in the escapement 22 then moves downstream along the conveyor while the rear stopblocks 30 prevent additional articles from also travelling through the escapement. A tension spring 36 connected between the forward portions of the arms 24 returns the escapement mechanism to its closed position when the operator 32 is deenergized.

A pair of switches are associated with the escapement mechanism 22. Switch 38 detects the presence of an article 12 inside the escapement mechanism 22 and is closed by that article until after it leaves the escapement mechanism. Switch 40 is normally open and only closed when the forward portions of the escapement arms swing away from the longitudinal path of article travel and one of the arms strikes that switch, as explained below. Switches 38 and 40 are connected to a control box 41.

The bagging arrangement further includes a bag supply 42 and a mechanism 44 for singly inflating or blowing flexible bags 46 open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel. The bag supply 42 comprises a support platform 48 for a vertical stack of bags each of which is positioned in substantially flat unopened condition. The platform is supported by a pair of coil springs 50 designed to maintain the uppermost bag in the stack at a predetermined elevation regardless of the number of bags in the stack. Each bag 46 has a closed end 52 and an open end 54. A flap portion 56 adjacent the open end of each bag 46 is secured to a bag retainer 58 in the form of a pair of spaced-apart vertically disposed thin wires or posts. The bag retainer simply extends through apertures in the flap portion 56 near the open end of each bag, as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The inflating mechanism 44 for singly inflating flexible bags 46 open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel includes an air chute 60 having an exit end 62 adjacent the open end of the uppermost bag in the bag supply 42. A baffle 64 at the exit end 62 of the air chute 60 divides the air flowing through the chute into a first stream 66 that initially urges the uppermost flexible bag in the stack open. The baffle also provides a second airstream 68 that maintains the uppermost bag in the stack in its opened article receiving position until after an article 12 is disposed therein, as explained more fully below. A source of driven air (not shown) supplied the air chute 60 with the required airflow.

A normally open switch 70 is located above an upstream of the bag supply 42 for detecting when the uppermost bag in the supply is inflated. As shown best in FIG. 3, when a flexible bag 46 is inflated the airflow travels in the direction of the arrows into a box 72 having a hinged rear flap 74. The normally open switch 70 is closed when the driven air enters the box 72 and urges the rear flap 74 against the switch. As mentioned above, the function of the switch 70 is to detect the presence of an inflated open bag. Switch 70 is connected to control box 41.

The bagging arrangement 10 also includes a pair of pivoted guiding arms 76 immediately adjacent the upstream side of the bag supply 42. Each guiding arm 76 pivoted to a mounting plate 78 by pins 80 connected to cars 82 that extend outwardly from the arms 76, as shown best in FIG. 4. A solenoid operator 84 is connected to open and close the guiding arms by moving them away from and toward the longitudinal path of article travel. The operator 84 is connected to the midportions 86 of the guiding arms 76 by a yoke 88 so that longitudinal motion of the yoke opens and closes the guiding arms, as is clear from FIG. 4. An upper inwardly directed flange 90 on each arm and the interior face of each arm function as guiding surfaces against which the articles 12 slide when the guiding arms are moved away from the longitudinal path of article travel. Each guiding arm has a downstream tip portion 92 that enters into an inflated bag 46 when the guiding arms are swung open to thereby assist the second airstream 68 in holding the inflated bag open. The extended positions of the tip portions 92 are shown in phantom outline in FlG. 4.

Directly above the conveyor belt 16 and immediately upstream from the guiding arms 76 belting 98 is connected to en gage the top portions of the articles on the conveyor. The belting 98 forces the articles against the conveyor to thereby prevent slippage between the bottom portions of the articles and the conveyor. The conveyor 98 is trained about a driven pulley 100 and an idler pulley 102. The driven pulley is connected to the idler pulley 18 of the conveyor 14 by appropriate mechanisms that cause the upper belting to move in the direction indicated in the drawing. The belting is at a height sufi'rcient to engage top portions of the articles and runs at a speed substantially equal to that of the conveyor belt 16.

As explained more fully below, a switch 94 is associated with the guiding arms 76. Like the other switches, switch 94 is connected to the control box 41. The function of the switch 94 is to maintain the solenoids 32, 84 energized at least until after the article 12 propelled through the guiding arms has cleared the arms. Another switch 104 is located adjacent a downstream conveyor 106 which transports bagged articles to a heat shrink tunnel 108 where the flexible bag is shrunk around the article. Switch 104 is connected to the control box 41 and functions to prevent both the escapement and guiding arms from opening until after the bagged article is torn away from the bag retainer 58 and that article hits the switch 104.

The function of the circuitry associated with the control box 41 is best described in conjunction with the sequence of operation of the bagging arrangement 10. With an article 12 positioned at the escapement mechanism 22 the operation of the bagger is as follows. The articles trapped by the escapement mechanism 22 closes switch 38, and when the uppermost flexible bag 46 of the bag supply 42 is inflated the normally open switch associated with the bag supply is closed. When these conditions are satisfied the control box 41 completes the power supply to the solenoid operators 32 and 84 associated with the escapement arms 24 and the guiding arms 76, respectively. Once the escapement arms 24 and the guiding arms 76 open out of the longitudinal path of article travel the article trapped by the escapement is released onto the conveyor 16 and the conveyor propels the released article into the awaiting inflated bag. The upper belting 98 bears down on the article to prevent or substantially alleviate slippage between the bottom portion of the article and the conveyor 16. The arms 76 function to guide the article into the inflated bag and the downstream tip portions 92 assist in holding the bag open. As soon as that article clears the guiding arms 76 switch 94 via the control box 41 deenergizes the solenoid operators 32, 84. Once the propelled article engages the inside closed end 52 of the inflated bag the momentum thereof operates to tear the bag flap 56 away from the bag retainer 58. Ultimately, the bagged article is propelled onto the downstream conveyor 106 that transports it to the heat shrink tunnel 108 where the bag is shrunk around the article. After the bagged article is torn from the bag retainer 58, the article hits the switch 104 which signals the control box 41 that this condition has occurred. The bagging arrangement 10 is then ready to bag another article. Switch 104 prevents the next article from being released onto the conveyor 16 in cases of malfunction when the bagged article is not torn away from the bag retainer 58 by the momentum of the propelled article.

The solenoid operators are deenergized after the article released by the escapement arms 24 clears the guiding arms 76. Since the escapement mechanism 22 is designed to release only a single article each time the operator 32 is energized, it is not critical that the arms 24 close immediately after the released article clears the escapement. Switch 40 operates to hold the escapement open until the released article clears the guiding arms and switch 94 is hit. When this condition occurs the operators 32 84 are deenergized. The sequence of operation is repeated when the next bag is inflated open, the next article is positioned at the escapement 22, and the bagged article is on the downstream conveyor 106. AS is clear from the above description, the bagging arrangement 10 functions to continuously provide articles with flexible overwraps in bag form.

in machine arrangements where the conveyor 16 is quite long the upper belting 98 may be eliminated since slippage between the bottom portion of the released article and the conveyor 16 is eliminated by the time the article reaches the end of the conveyor adjacent the awaiting inflated bag. Also, the escapement 22 may be replaced by a manual feed or similar operation. Moreover, the function of the switch 94 associated with the guiding arms 76 may be included with the function of switch 104 and switch 94 ELIMINATED.

lclaim:

1. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag having closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly-inflating the bags open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of the opened end thereof, the conveyor means propelling each article into an inflated opened bag, and means driving the conveyor means at a sufficient speed whereby the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag retainer which then enables the next bag of the supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor means.

2. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 1 wherein the means for singly inflating the bags open includes an air chute having an exit end adjacent the open end of the bag to be inflated and a baffle at the exit end of the chute for dividing the airflow into a first stream that initially urges the bag open and a second stream that maintains the bag in its opened article-receiving position until it is torn from the bag retainer by the momentum of the article propelled into it.

3. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 1 wherein the means on the frame for supporting the supply of flexible bags is constructed and arranged to support a vertical stack of bags with the uppermost bag of the stack inflated.

4. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag being closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly inflating the bags open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that 'the closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of the opened end thereof, the conveyor means propelling each article into an inflated opened bag whereby the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag retainer which then enables the next bag of the supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor means, and an upper rotating belt directly above the conveyor means for engaging top portions of the articles on the conveyor means to force the articles against the conveyor and thereby prevent slippage between the bottom portions of the articles and the conveyor.

5. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 1 including a pair of pivoted guiding arms immediately adjacent the upstream side of the bag supply, operator means for moving the guiding arms into and out of the longitudinal path of article travel, guiding arms including surfaces for guiding an article into an inflated bag when the arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel, and downstream tip portions on the guiding arms that enter the inflated bag to assist in holding it open when the guiding arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel.

6. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag having closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly inflating the bags open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each inflated bag is position for the next article on the conveyor means, and means to singly release articles onto the conveyor means comprising a pair of pivoted escapement arms, and operator means for opening and closing the arms.

7. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 6 including sensing means downstream from the supply of flexible bags constructed and arranged to detect when a bagged article is torn away from the bag retainer and to prevent the escapement arms from releasing the next article until after the bagged article is torn from the retainer.

8. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 6 including first sensing means associated with the pivoted escapement arms constructed and arranged to detect the presence of an article immediately adjacent the upstream side of the escapement arms, second sensing means associated with the bag supply constructed and arranged to detect when a bag is in flated open into its article-receiving position, and circuitry interconnecting the first and second sensing means with the operator for the escapement arms for energizing the operator to thereby open the arms to release an article when a bag is inflated open and an article is immediately adjacent the upstream side of the escapement arms.

9. An arrangement as in claim 8 including additional sensing means downstream for the supply of flexible bags constructed and arranged to detect when a bag is torn away from the bag retainer, the circuitry interconnecting the first and second sensing means with the additional sensing means to prevent the escapement arms from releasing the next article until after the bagged article is torn away from the retainer.

10. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 9 including a pair of pivoted guiding arms immediately adjacent the upstream side of the bag supply, operator means for moving the guiding arms into and out of the longitudinal path of article travel, the guiding arms including surfaces for guiding an article into an inflated bag when the arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel, downstream tip portions on the guiding arms that enter the inflated bag to assist in holding it open when the guiding arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel, the circuitry energizing the operator for the guiding arms at the same moment the operator for the escapement arms is energized, and third sensing means associated with pivoted guiding arms constructed and arranged to maintains the operators for the guiding and escapement arms energized at least until after the propelled article has passed the guiding arms.

11. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag having closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly opening the bags into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each opened bag is downstream of the open end thereof, and conveyor means propelling each article into an opened bag, and means driving the conveyor means at a sufficient speed whereby the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag retainer which then enables the next bag of the supply to be opened into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor means. 

1. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag having closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly inflating the bags open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of the opened end thereof, the conveyor means propelling each article into an inflated opened bag, and means driving the conveyor means at a sufficient speed whereby the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag retainer which then enables the next bag of the supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor means.
 2. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 1 wherein the means for singly inflating the bags open includes an air chute having an exit end adjacent the open end of the bag to be inflated and a baffle at the exit end of the chute for dividing the airflow into a first stream that initially urges the bag open and a second stream that maintains the bag in its opened article-receiving position until it is torn from the bag retainer by the momentum of the article propelled into it.
 3. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 1 wherein the means on the frame for supporting the supply of flexible bags is constructed and arranged to support a vertical stack of bags with the uppermost bag of the stack inflated.
 4. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag being closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly inflating the bags open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of the opened end thereof, the conveyor means propelling each article into an inflated opened bag whereby the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag retainer which then enables the next bag of the supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor means, and an upper rotating belt directly above the conveyor means for engaging top portions of the articles on the conveyor means to force the articles against the conveyor and thereby prevent slippage between the bottom portions of the articles and the conveyor.
 5. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 1 including a pair of pivoted guiding arms immediately adjacent the upstream side of the bag supply, operator means for moving the guiding arms into and out of the longitudinal path of article travel, guiding arms including surfaces for guiding an article into an inflated bag when the arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel, and downstream tip portions on the guiding arms that enter the inflated bag to assist in holding it open when the guiding arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel.
 6. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag having closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly inflating the bags open into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each inflated bag is downstream of the opened end thereof, the conveyor means propelling each article into an inflated opened bag whereby the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag retainer which then enables the next bag of the supply to be inflated into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor means, and means to singly release articles onto the conveyor means comprising a pair of pivoted escapement arms, and operator means for opening and closing the arms.
 7. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 6 including sensing means downstream from the supply of flexible bags constructed and arranged to detect when a bagged article is torn away from the bag retainer and to prevent the escapement arms from releasing the next article until after the bagged article is torn from the retainer.
 8. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 6 including first sensing means associated with the pivoted escapement arms constructed and arranged to detect the presence of an article immediately adjacent the upstream side of the escapement arms, second sensing means associated with the bag supply constructed and arranged to detect when a bag is inflated open into its article-receiving position, and circuitry interconnecting the first and second sensing means with the operator for the escapement arms for energizing the operator to thereby open the arms to release an article when a bag is inflated open and an article is immediately adjacent the upstream side of the escapement arms.
 9. An arrangement as in claim 8 including additional sensing means downstream for the supply of flexible bags constructed and arranged to detect when a bag is torn away from the bag retainer, the circuitry interconnecting the first and second sensing means with the additional sensing means to prevent the escapement arms from releasing the next article until after the bagged article is torn away from the retainer.
 10. An arrangement for bagging articles as in claim 9 including a pair of pivoted guiding arms immediately adjacent the upstream side of the bag supply, operator means for moving the guiding arms into and out of the longitudinal path of article travel, the guiding arms including surfaces for guiding an article into an inflateD bag when the arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel, downstream tip portions on the guiding arms that enter the inflated bag to assist in holding it open when the guiding arms are pivoted out of the longitudinal path of article travel, the circuitry energizing the operator for the guiding arms at the same moment the operator for the escapement arms is energized, and third sensing means associated with pivoted guiding arms constructed and arranged to maintains the operators for the guiding and escapement arms energized at least until after the propelled article has passed the guiding arms.
 11. An arrangement for bagging articles comprising a frame, conveyor means on the frame for propelling articles along a longitudinal path of travel, means on the frame for supporting a supply of flexible bags adjacent the longitudinal path of article travel, each bag having closed and open ends with a portion adjacent the open end thereof secured to a bag retainer fixed to the frame, and means for singly opening the bags into article-receiving position in the longitudinal path of article travel so that the closed end of each opened bag is downstream of the open end thereof, and conveyor means propelling each article into an opened bag, and means driving the conveyor means at a sufficient speed whereby the momentum of the propelled article operates to tear its associated bag away from the bag retainer which then enables the next bag of the supply to be opened into article-receiving position for the next article on the conveyor means. 